Warner urges Aussie fans to keep the faith

Banned opener David Warner has urged Australians to get behind the country's cricket team as they attempt to emerge out of one of the darkest periods in their history.

Australia's win over South Africa on Friday night was their first in eight one-day internationals, while the Aussies' winning rate since Warner's fateful involvement in the ball-tampering scandal was just 25 per cent across all formats heading into Sunday's clash at Blundstone Arena.

Warner and ex-captain Steve Smith are suspended until the end of March and Cameron Bancroft until the end of December while a number of executives, directors and coach Darren Lehmann have since fallen on their sword following the drama and subsequent review.

But Warner asked fans not to give up on the team through this trying period.

"We've got to keep on trying to be positive and pump them up because they're trying their hardest," Warner said in a rare interview.

"It's quite challenging when you're in a team, when both teams are working out their combinations for next year's World Cup.

"Yeah, we're losing a couple of games, but they had a tough win (on Friday) night, and to be positive and try and pump the boys up is the most important thing from where we sit right now.

"They're training their backsides off to win games. If we can be a bit more positive in what we do, it will help them go a long away."

Warner and Smith faced off in Sydney Grade Cricket for the first time on Saturday since March's dramatic South Africa tour, with both failing to capitalise on starts before proving popular with the big crowd at Coogee Oval.

They will both be available to return to Australia for next year's one-day World Cup in England, where the Aussies will attempt to defend their title.

However, that seems a long way off at the moment, given Australia have slipped to No.6 in the world ranking and failed to bat out their overs in seven of their last eight 50-over matches.

"We are quite top heavy when you look at that line up. There are a lot of things there to work on for next year," Warner said.

"They know what they've got to do. Those guys train their hardest in the nets.

"They emulate game scenarios .... It takes one hard victory like (on Friday) night to get a bit of ebb and flow. They'll be good."